I'M AFRAID THE PICTURES ON THIS PAGE HAVE
BECOME DAMAGED. I AM STARTING TO REBUILD IT
HERE ON MY NEW SITE
| RENO/SPARKS/ GENOA/
GARDNERVILLE |
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| Casale's Half-Way Club, 2501 East 4th St., Reno, NV.
775-323-3979 since 1937
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Talk about a hidden gem (and I'm not using the term hidden
loosely)!!! I literally drove by this place five times before I got the
courage to go in (just because some other areas on 4th St. are pretty
questionable and strangely no one had ever mentioned this place to me).
But I could not resist the "since 1937" painted on the building. I
noticed some nice cars in the lot and the "children welcome" sign, so
wimpy old me went in. Once you walk through the doors the wonderful
character of this place becomes immediately evident. A great old bar
with writing all over the walls (apparently you used to be able to put
your name on the wall if you drank five Jägermeisters - they have given
up on that for obvious reasons). The other side is a family Italian
restaurant. The very friendly and knowledgeable local, "Eddie
Spaghetti" , was soon giving me the great history of this place (which
apparently was the first to bring Pizza to Reno in 1937 in the fashion
Patsy D'Amore did for Los Angeles in 1939). The friendly bartender
reminded me of a cross between Karen Carpenter and Carrie Fisher. It's
the Half-Way Club because it was once Half-Way between Reno and Sparks
sitting out in empty pastures in the 1930's. The outside may look funky,
but inside it's a very nice family restaurant. Apparently, just about
every governor of Nevada has eaten here. This may well be the oldest
restaurant in Reno or maybe even Nevada, especially if you factor in the
criteria that it is still owned by the Casale family that first opened
it in the same location with continuous operation (I don't have all the
facts, but based on what I know at least - it's the oldest I know of).
In my humble Bohemian opinion this may well be also the BEST restaurant
in Nevada. They make their Ravioli (including the dough) from scratch,
as well as meatballs and other scrumptious Italian food. You know an
Italian place is great when they refer to the sauce as "gravy". The
owner was nice enough to sit down and talk with me - a wonderful Italian
lady (who apparently rules the kitchen with an iron fist!). This place
is truly one of the most historic and truly authentic Reno restaurants.
It will be my hangout anytime I'm in Reno! An American treasure! Why
have generic food in a chain restaurant when you can eat just as if you
had an Italian born grandmother. |
| (Galletti's) Coney Island Bar, 2644 Prater Way Sparks, NV
89431 775 358-6485 since 1945
T T T
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Another great find on 4th St. that is cherished by locals for its
great Reno history. I had a nice chat on Reno history with one of the
founder's sons. Very nice old back bar and amiable bartender as well.
This place was named for an amusement park that was once across the
street. I hear they have great lunches and a traditional Wednesday night
dinner here, but my schedule did not yet permit me to partake in these
festivities. It seems like most of Reno's authentic living history
survives on 4th St. If you want to know the true Reno, start here, check
out Louis' Basque Corner, the Santa Fe Hotel and end up at Casale's
Half-Way House. You can't go wrong!
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| Liberty Belle Saloon and Restaurant, 4250 S. Virginia St.
Reno, NV (775) 825-1776
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While the restaurant dates from 1958, the real star here is their
ancient wooden bar (a 1904 Brunswick "Del Monte" back bar for those of
you who are experts), transferred from an old saloon elsewhere in Reno.
Quite similar to the wonderful bars found in Virginia City (one of the
best time machine cities around - despite the tourist trappings). This
is one of the oldest restaurants in town and beloved by locals.
UPDATE: In typical callous fashion, Nevada let this treasure slip
away. It closed. The State of Nevada should have stepped in and
purchased it for a very fair price and converted the place into a living
museum, while still running it as a restaurant. Well, one can dream, no? |
| Louis' Basque Corner, 301 E. 4th St. Reno, NV (775) 323-7203
since 1967 T T
The food I'll give five out of five stars (if I had such a rating
system!)
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One of the nicest places to eat in Reno (and one of the few true
local landmarks). Don't go here unless you're hungry and friendly! For
22 dollars or so you get what seemed like a ten course meal served
family style on multi-family long tables. Inevitably you get to know
the other people seated with you. Basque food (at least here) was not
too exotic - quite similar to good old American comfort food. If you
hate restaurant chains and generic chain food (which predominates in
Reno), this is the place to go (unless you're a vegetarian). My last
trip here I ate with a really nice group of people, including someone
from one of the founding Basque families of the area. Obviously, this is
a great place to eat if you're by yourself in this town - or if your
with your family. I did not partake of the Picon Punch, but I'm told
after one you'll think you are Basque, even if you are not. |
| (Overland Hotel) Bar & Basque Restaurant, 1451 N. Main
Street, Gardnerville, Nevada 775-782-2138 (for some reason the internet
lists two addresses for this place - also 691 S. Main - in any event -
you can't miss it in tiny Gardnerville). T T T
 |
Creative restaurant names are usually a good indication that a
restaurant is not a time machine. In the good old days, names like
Sam's Grill were good enough! Hence the "Basque Restaurant" was a good
name for me to check out. This is one of the oldest Basque restaurants
in the area. Reno/Sparks/Carson City/Gardnerville have a large Basque
population based on the influx of Basque sheep herders from the early
days of this area. The bar here looks quite old (couldn't get a date
out of the Bar tender). The food in the restaurant was superb, with the
typical massive portions and infinite courses of the area Basque
restaurants. The only downside were with the smaller tables here - I
had to eat alone (get out the violins!).
 |
| The Peppermill Casino, Virginia St., Reno, NV
 |
This casino is worth a visit to see what is undoubtedly the most
colorful neon interior in the world. It's like a scene out of the
Felini movie "Fred and Ginger". The Peppermill lounge, both in Las
Vegas on the Strip and in the Reno casino is straight out of the 1960's
TV show "Love American Style", with a fire and water fountain and the
ultimate in swank design. This place may not appeal to the Beverly
Hills crowd, but I enjoy the explosion of colors. True working class
elegance. There's pretty good American comfort food in the coffee shop
as well. |
| Santa Fe Hotel Basque Restaurant, 235 N. Lake Street Reno NV
89501 (775) 323-1891
T T T T T
This may mean "I like to see Gringos eat an insane amount of great
food" in Basque. I'm not sure. |
Another one of the great Basque Restaurants in the Reno area. It was
once a hotel where Basque immigrants would first arrive in a fashion
similar to the Overland Hotel in Gardnerville. I didn't get a chance to
eat here, but everyone tells me it has the same great cuisine as the
other Basque places I mention. What makes this place unique is the
totally pristine 1940's bar inside and the classic neon outside. The
owners have brilliantly not only not changed a thing in this place since
it opened, but they also did not clutter it up with knick knacks! Sure
wish every owner had the same good sense. The bar area would make an
absolutely perfect locale for a 1940's period movie. It's just as nice
as the Musso and Frank's bar in Hollywood, but slightly plainer and
perhaps a tad more authentic. Another Reno treasure. This may be the
best preserved bar I've ever seen (or at least tie with House of
Shield's in San Francisco). I could have sworn I saw Edward Hopper
sulking in the corner over a Picon Punch.
 |
| Trader Dick's Restaurant and Aquarium Bar , 1100 Nugget Ave,
Sparks, NV 89431 775 356 3300
T T T
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This is not in its original location, but it is one of the original
Tiki Restaurants and it has retained much of its charm in the new
location. A beautiful interior with much indirect lighting, plenty of
Tiki's and a giant aquarium bar. One of the great features of this
restaurant is that you still get to keep the Tiki mug when you order
certain tropical drinks. The food is good and in the moderate range of
prices if you order carefully. Very relaxing and usually has a good band
for dancing. Located in John Ascuaga's Nugget, a nice place to stay if
you do not mind casinos. Sparks, if you did not know, is a city that
merges into Reno.
|
| WEST AND NORTHWEST NEVADA |
I haven't been to Central and East Nevada Yet. Hold yer horses
before you complain! |
| BEATTY, NEVADA |
|
| The Beatty Club, Main St. (Rt. 95), Beatty, NV
 |
I think most people who like my site are fans of the odd, the
eccentric, the strange and unusual. If you are someone who falls into
that group, you will certainly love the Beatty Club, which may be the
strangest place I've ever walked into. Right out of a Quentin
Tarantino/Richard Rodriguez movie. I'm not really going to try to
describe it. I'll leave it up to you. The owner is a very nice and
intelligent individual, who is good for pleasant conversation. Stop in
for an ice cream on a hot summer day. The Sourdough Saloon next door,
I would describe more as a bar for locals. It did not have an old saloon
back bar. The Historic Exchange Club across the street that has (had?)
a nice saloon back bar, appears to now be a hardware store (I'm not
really sure, however).
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| GENOA, NEVADA |
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| Genoa Bar, Main St. Genoa, NV since 1853
T T T T T
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This place is in pristine shape, straight out of an old Western.
This is the first time I've seen a bar counter so old, it is basically
worn off down to the raw wood. Mark Twain downed a few here. Raquel
Welch donated a bra to the bar. "Nevada's Oldest Thirst Parlor". Well
worth the trip out to Genoa - Nevada's first settlement. This is a true
saloon with a lot of friendly locals and a few tourists to boot. Come
yonder and sit a spell.
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| GOLDFIELD, NEVADA |
Here are some miscellaneous pictures of Goldfield, NV and below are
blurbs on two great saloons. It's hard to believe any state can rival
Nevada for Saloons - well - Texas I guess!. My definition of a saloon
is any place that has an original old back bar (usually Brunswick).
|
The Mozart Club Saloon, Columbia Ave & Highway 95, Goldfield,
NV 89013 (775) 485-3219
T T T T
|
One of two great authentic Western saloons in this very authentic
old Western gold mining town. Knowing how tired the bartender was of
hearing the same damn questions all day long from tourists - I didn't
ask anything about the place. It is for sale for around $250,000 which
includes its beautiful back bar. Quite a deal in my estimation. Would be
a lot of fun for a creative person to run this place. Very well
preserved. Had a nice ham sandwich here to boot. Goldfield is as
authentic as it gets. It's almost like being on the movie set of a
Western. 
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| Santa Fe Saloon & Motel, 925 N Fifth Ave, Goldfield, Nevada
(775) 485-3431 since 1905
T T T T T
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Built in 1905 and possibly the oldest continuously operating bar in
Nevada (don't know what the Genoa bar would say about that), this place
is a tremendous blast from the past. Very well preserved. Good stop off
driving between Reno and Las Vegas. Goldfield, once a boom town, with
large stone buildings from early in the 1900s, has now retreated into
being a quiet very small Nevada desert town. If you stop in at the
Santa Fe Club, you have to promise not to ask the bartender what the
population of the town is, why she would want to live in Goldfield and
other questions about the city. She gets these questions about 100
times a day, and believe me - it gets real old!
 |
| Goldfield Pictures - Some miscellaneous pictures of this
very picturesque town. The old West lives on!
|
Goldfield may not be everyone's cup of tea and I'm sure the
residents here could not care less!
 |
| VIRGINIA CITY, NV |
|
| Pictures of Virginia City and its Saloons
The above is the Silver Queen Casino Hotel.
The above is the Delta Saloon - 1876
The Palace Saloon - 1875
Mark Twain Casino
The Crystal Bar
The Bucket of Blood Saloon -1876 |
Virginia City has to have the greatest collection of Saloons in the
world (is there any place in Texas close to it?). Given the remote
location of this place, it survived almost perfectly preserved from it's
old Western mining days. You can almost hear the Bonanza theme as you
walk the wooden sidewalks. Sure it's gotten plenty touristy. Everyone
needs to make a living. Fortunately, many of the saloon back bars
survived, although in virtually every place they are disrespected by a
clutter of signs and knick knacks. Doesn't anyone realize these should
be one of the main stars of Virginia City. Even one saloon taken over by
a historical enterprise has totally covered over the bar in knick
knacks. I guess it's part of our attention deficit culture that everyone
needs massive stimulation of the senses. What can you do? I did my best
to photograph most of the saloons (I was getting mighty sick of O'Doul's
by the end of my stay!!!). I'm sure I missed one or two. I am also
offering up a few miscellaneous pictures of this great place as well. It
would be ridiculous to visit Reno without taking a trip out here as
well. It was hard for low tech me to keep track of the pictures and
names of the places, so if I got some wrong - please let me know and it
will be corrected. Some pictures won't be identified.
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| GREATER NEVADA |
For lack of a better term! |
| RESTAURANT, Glendale, Nevada T T
 |
Don't know much about this place, but you've got to love a
restaurant with no name. It's about the only thing going in Glendale
(which may be Nevada's smallest city). Nice stop off between Las Vegas
and Mesquite, NV or St. George, UT.
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